Bushing for beer or ale kegs or barrels.



No. 771,495. PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904. F. M. PFLUGER. BUSHING FOR BEER 0R ALE KEGS OR BARRELS,

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21. 1903. N0 MODEL.

' flttozumaa 2 9 messes UNITED STATES Patented October 4, 1904.

FLORIAN M. PFLUGER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

BUSHING FOR BEER OR ALE KEGS OR BARRELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,495, dated October 4, 1904.

Application filed August 21, 1903.

To all whom, it may concern.-

. Be it known that I, FLoRIAN M. PFLUGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bushings for Beer or Ale Kegs or Barrels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in bushings for bung-holes of beer and ale kegs, barrels, or similar receptacles; and the object of the invention is to provide abushing which can be readily secured in a bung-hole and which will form a liquid-tight joint between its outer surface and the surrounding wall of said hole. With the forms of bushing commonly employed for this purpose it is found that before the barrel or other receptacle is otherwise unfit for use the metal lining of the bunghole will become loosened and permit leakage of the contents of the receptacle. By the present invention means are provided where the grip or hold of the bushing on the wooden wall of the bung-hole may be maintained even after years of use, so that the life or usefulness of the receptacle will be greater than if bung-hole linings of the form heretofore employed are used.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1- is a sectional view through a bushing constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the same in use. Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the bushing when its parts are separated.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in both figures, 1 designates the wall of a cask or barrel through which is formed acircular opening or bung-hole in the ordinary manner. The bushing for lining said bung-hole consists of two members 3 4, which are connected by a screw-thread, whereby one of said members may be moved longitudinally of the other to vary the length of the bushing, and a packing ring or band .5, arranged about the bushing and adapted to be forced into close contact with the surrounding wall of the bung-hole as said members 3 4 are drawn together. The members 3 4 may be Serial No. 170,295. (No model.)

made of malleable iron or any other suitable material and are preferably of the form shown. The outer member 4 of the bushing is provided with a interiorly-threaded body, as at 6, and provided at its outer end with an annular flange 7, which is adapted to bear against the outer face of the cask 1 about the bung-hole. Suitable lugs or engaging projections 8 are preferably provided at the outer end of said member 4, which engage the body of the cask or barrel and hold said member 4 against rotation in the bung-hole.

The inner member 3 of the bushing is provided with a cylindrical exteriorly-threaded body portion adapted to extend into and engage with the internal thread of the outer member 4 and at its inner end is provided with a beveled flange 9, which is adapted to be drawn closely into the inner end of the bunghole, which is preferably flared or expanded slightly.

About the inner bushing member 3, between the beveled flange 9 at the inner end thereof and the inner end of the outer bushing member 4, is fitted the packing ring or band 5, preferably formed of lead. This ring may be provided at its ends with internal beveled surfaces adapted to engage the beveled face of the flange 9 on the inner bushing member and a beveled surface 11, formed at the inner end of the bushing member 4.

The outer end of the inner bushing 3 may be provided with a series of notches 12, by means of which a suitable wrench can be engaged therewith when desired.

The method of using and the advantages incident to a bung-hole bushing having its parts constructed and arranged as above described will be apparent. It will be noticed that when in position the inner end of said bushing is flush with the inner face of the cask or barrel, thus offering no obstruction to a complete draining of said receptacle. If after use the packing ring or band 5 should become slightly loosened in the bung-hole, it is only necessary to rotate the inner bushing member 3 by means of a suitable wrench, when the two members 3 4 will be drawn more closely together, and thereby the band 5 forced outwardly into close contact with the surrounding wall of the bung-hole, and this can be done without removing the bung and when the barrel or cask is filled with liquid, thus checking any leakage.

Having thus described the invention, and Without intending to limit the same to the exact details of the embodiment thereof hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the drawings, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination with a barrel or cask provided with a bung-hole, of a bushing fitted in said bung-hole and consisting of a tubular member secured in the outer end of the bung- .hole, a second tubular member adjustably connected to the first said member and extending to the inner end of the bung-hole, and an expansible packing arranged between the bushing and the wall of the bung-hole and having an interiorly-beveled surface bearing against the inner end of one of said members of the bushing, whereby said packing will be forced into close contact with the wall of the bunghole as the members of the bushing are drawn together.

2. A bung-hole bushing consisting of a tubular member adapted to be secured at the outer end of and project into a bung-hole, a second tubular member having a threaded connection with the first said member and adapted to extend to the inner end of the bunghole, and a packing-ring or sleeve arranged between said tubular members and having at its ends interiorly-beveled su rfaees which contact with said members, whereby said ring will be forced into close contact with the surrounding wall of the bung-hole as said tubular members are drawn together.

3. The combination with a cask or barrel provided with a bung-hole, of a bushing consisting of a tubular member adapted to be inserted in said bung-hole and provided with means for attachment to the cask and for preventing its rotation within the bung-hole, a second tubular member adjustably engaging the first said member to move longitudinally thereof, and extending to the inner end of the bung-hole, and a packing-ring arranged about a beveled surface on said second member and abutting against the inner end of the first said member, whereby it will be forced into close contact with the Wall of the bung-hole as the said members are drawn together.

4. A bung-hole bushing consisting of a cylindrical, internally-threaded, member having an annular flange at one end and a beveled exterior surface at its other end, a second, cylindrical member having at one end an externally-threaded portion adj ustably engaging the threaded portion of the first said memher and provided at its other end with an exteriorly-beveled flange, and a packing-ring surroundingsaid externally-threaded member between the flange thereon and the beveled surface on the first said member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FLORIAN M. PFLUGER.

Witnesses:

JULIA MAXWELL, GEORGE H. DURHAM. 

